1991 – Ken Caminiti starts an around-the-horn triple play during a 10-4 loss to the Braves. In the second-inning, Mike Heath’s grounder goes from Caminiti to Casey Candaele at second to Jeff Bagwell at first for the feat.
Minnesota becomes the first team in history to turn two triple plays in the same game. Both are started on grounders to 3B Gary Gaetti, who has started five of the Twins’ last six triple killings. The Twins’ triple killings aren’t enough as the team loses to the Red Sox at Fenway Park, 1 – 0.
1978 – The traditional Opening Day in Cincinnati is an 11-9 loss to the Reds. Terry Puhl begins the season with a leadoff homer against Tom Seaver and is later joined by Cesar Cedeno and Joe Ferguson in the longball department. Ferguson also starts a triple play when he catches strike three from Joe Sambito, throws out George Foster stealing second then watches Joe Morgan get caught in a rundown between third and home.
1971 – Astros turn the first triple play in their history during a 9-4 victory over Nolan Ryan and the Mets . Shortstop Roger Metzger takes a tap by Cleon Jones and steps on second, forcing Tommie Agee. His toss to first beats Jones to the bag. First baseman Denis Menke sees Ken Boswell make a belated dash to third so he fires across the diamond where Doug Rader completes the trifecta.
On June 25, 1969 At Parc Jarry, The Montreal Expos pulled off the second triple play of the major league season and first in their history Wednesday night in the second inning of their second game with the St. Louis Cardinals. Jim (Mud Cat) Grant singled to open the inning and Curt Flood walked. Vada…
In the 1st inning, Washington SS Ron Hansen turns the 8th unassisted triple play in major league history and the first in 41 years. Cleveland’s Joe Azcue hits a liner to Hansen, who steps on second base to double Dave Nelson, and tags Russ Snyder sliding into second base for the third out. Hansen’s effort is not enough, as Washington loses, 10 – 1.
On July 29, 1968, Washington Senators shortstop Ron Hansen turns an unassisted triple play – the eighth in the game’s history and the first in 41 years. With runners on first and second, Cleveland’s Joe Azcue hits a line drive to Hansen, who makes the catch before retiring the two runners. Three days later, the…
At Shea Stadium, the New York Mets and the San Francisco Giants play the longest doubleheader in major league history – 9 hours, 52 minutes – with the help of a 23-inning game in the nightcap that is won by the visiting Giants, 8 – 6, on run-scoring hits by Del Crandall and Felipe Alou against Galen Cisco. The game takes 7:23 to play. In the opener, Juan Marichal pitches a complete game and Orlando Cepeda goes 3 for 4 with two runs and one RBI for a Giants 5 – 3 victory.
Kansas City OF Whitey Herzog hits into the only all-Cuban triple play in major league history. The action goes from Washington P Pedro Ramos, to 1B Julio Becquer, to SS Jose Valdivielso. The win, however, goes to reliever Chuck Stobbs as the Nats take an 8 – 3 decision. Harmon Killebrew has a two-run homer.
On April 9, 1959, the Baltimore Orioles become the first team in major league history to turn a triple play on Opening Day. The O’s turn the triple killing in front of Vice-President Richard Nixon, who throws out the ceremonial first pitch as a substitute for President Dwight Eisenhower.